Day 2: The Cave Of Skulls

And so the journey continues as we land in a prehistoric landscape, where Cavemen are arguing about fire. It's interesting to note that we see the cavemen to set the scene for the episode before we return to the TARDIS. For one thing, it means that we, as an audience, have the knowledge that they have travelled in time, something that Ian and Barbara, the two companions and major audience identification figures, don't. This means that whilst we spent the last episode on their side, we're able to spend some of the episode on the Doctor's side, as he tries to convince them that they have indeed travelled in time. It's interesting to note, especially knowing in retrospect that the Doctor's character had to be changed to be more likeable, that already we're able to take his side in matters when normally we'd be expected to take the side of Ian and Barbara.

It's also interesting to note the devolution of Susan. Where she began the episode as a young girl who seemed to be capable, here it only takes a few scenes for her to turn into a sobbing wreck as she realises that her Grandfather has gone missing, and they could be stuck in the stone age forever. It's annoying, because it shows a lack of care for the character on the writing and directing side. It's like seeing an adaptation of something into a film, and seeing what they've done with your favourite characters. A good adaptation will treat the characters with respect, and allow them to remain mostly faithful to the original material. A bad adaptation involves people looking at the characters, and quickly deciding how to make them more accessible to an audience. Susan is no longer an unearthly child, she has become a normal child.